Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

Reddish brown body, dark, slightly cloudy at the end, almost no head. Nose of dark roasted malts, peat smoke, and warming alcohol. Taste of dark malts, an almost Bourbon like alcohol warmth, toffee, espresso, smoke, and more hops than I would expect in a Scotch ale. Mouth a little syrupy ... maybe more lively carbonation would help. But a good beer.

Bottle pours a deep garnet color with very little head or lace. The aroma is powerful malt, brown sugar, chocolate, vanilla, peat, and just plain excellent. The flavor is really is so well rounded from the sweet malt and peat notes. Some mild pear notes in the finish with the peat. The palate is fairly rich, but does not at all become sticky like ales like this can tend to do. Carbonation survives pretty well and is quite lively in fact. Overall, this is an awesome beer. I need to get more of this.

12oz bottle shared by robert. Nice brown rustic color, small head. Aroma was really sweet: it had sugar, malt, smoke, and some raison maybe. Flavor was really good: Smoke, sugar, a little vanilla, malt and some hops thrown in. All blended very well. Texture was medium and went down smoothly. This is one of the better scoth ales out there.

Pours dark crimson with a quickly receding orange head. Smokey malt aroma. Smokey, vanilla, black licorice, and a little chocolate note. Very complex, good beer.

The body is a dark chestnut color with crimson hues. A small, foamy, light tan head settles to a thin film with a small edge. Soapy lacing mostly rejoins the body. Aromas are rich and malty, with a strong bourbon presence, tons of oaky vanilla, dark caramel, chocolate, and smoked peat. It smells truly fantastic, and the flavor follows right behind. Warming, peaty scotch notes blend well with the rich caramel and chocolate. There’s a moderate earthy hoppiness that works together with the peat as well. Vanilla is a primary highlight flavor. Medium-full bodied, this one goes down just a little hot and finishes sweet and sticky. This is a great scotch ale that, might even top its big brother, the Backwoods Bastard. Great brew.

A great scotchy malty aroma with a little smoke. Has a nice flavor, a bit of graininess in the finish. Quite nice.

Founders is fast becoming one of my favorite breweries. This beer is very nice. Beautiful color with a small head. Sweet taste with a bitter finish leaves you wanting another.

Vinous, chocolatey, malty aromas. Color is sort of ruby or raisin, depending on thickness. Not much head at all. Some smokiness comes out. Near full bodied with creamy carbonation. Some heat, some toffee, and swear there’s a chocolate note. Some dark fruit aspects. There’s a fair amount going on with this. The finish is a mite malty, but there is some helpful hop. Damn impressive drink.